Funnily enough, individual ministers do not wholly decide government/party policy. Even based on hearsay and articles from 20 years ago.

Funnily enough, individual ministers do not wholly decide government/party policy. Even based on hearsay and articles from 20 years ago.

I'm well aware of that. It doesn't make it any less uncomfortable having a justice minister that has strongly expressed his wish to bring hanging back (not as a misguided youth, but as grown man) and a culture secretary who thinks the license fee is 'worse than the poll tax'.

It illustrates the sort of people we now have in power, a state of affairs echoed all over Europe with a definite lurch to the right.

The license fee is fixed until 2026. The way tv landscape is changing, I'd be amazed if it doesn't change after that anyway - the BBC are selling their shows all around the word on platforms that weren't around 5 years ago... I'm a big fan of the BBC but the license fee model won't be around for ever.

Dark days my arse. I've been out and about since Friday, in at work today - lots of people from different cultures and backgrounds all working together. I've barely heard anyone talk about the election. Lots of newspapers and keyboard worriers trying to scare people.

Yes Indeed. Smoke and mirrors on the so called growing economy, Still a very debt based economy £500bn borrowed in last 5 years more than Labour did borrowing huge amounts on 1 credit card to pay off a smaller amount on another, overall debt £1.5 trillion. It is deceitful and putting off huge problems for short term power for the Tories.

Interesting - Labour kind of knew what was coming.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32606713

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OfXv6Lx06MA

Make sure you take some time to watch the above.

I think it's fair to say that Plymouth moor view chose the correct man, I know traditional Labour voters who put a cross next to Mercer's name. Regardless of your political affiliation, I think you'll agree he is/will make a great MP.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OfXv6Lx06MA

Make sure you take some time to watch the above.

I think it's fair to say that Plymouth moor view chose the correct man, I know traditional Labour voters who put a cross next to Mercer's name. Regardless of your political affiliation, I think you'll agree he is/will make a great MP.

That's a rather arrogant assumption on what other people should think isn't it? I'll say he's a great MP when he's improved the area dramatically, represented us successfully at a national level and succeeded in obtaining funding to upgrade our transfer infrastructure at the same level the northern monkeys are getting.

Too many local MP's have sold Plymouth/Devon & Cornwall short for too long at national level - I'll only approve of an MP who makes the rest of the country notice us and not ignore us when funding and planning is being done.

The benefit Mercer has locally is that he's barely even a Tory. Watched him in many hustings pre-election and he seemed to disagree with most Conservative policy and stance. He wouldn't have one as an independent so I guess this is the closest thing.

That's the plus I take anyway, a Tory who's barely a Tory.

The benefit Mercer has locally is that he's barely even a Tory. Watched him in many hustings pre-election and he seemed to disagree with most Conservative policy and stance. He wouldn't have one as an independent so I guess this is the closest thing.

That's the plus I take anyway, a Tory who's barely a Tory.

I don't like the Tories, but what you want in a local MP is someone who will fight the corner for local interest and representation on a national level. The colour of the rosette is irrelevant to this.

Apart from he will have to vote along the party whip line.

So the SNP have said they'd vote against relaxing the Hunting Act (good!), and now Downing Street have postponed the free vote.

Wonder what's more fragile right now? The Tories lead in the House, or the Union?

So the SNP have said they'd vote against relaxing the Hunting Act (good!), and now Downing Street have postponed the free vote.

Wonder what's more fragile right now? The Tories lead in the House, or the Union?

Why are the SNP voting to prevent something happening in England but which is already happening here in Scotland (ironically thanks to the SNP!)?

I would like to think it is because the SNP feel that the Govt should listen to the majority and deliver a vote that recognises the people's wishes, but it is probably just an opportunity to give hem a bloody nose.